Nailed

Heartbreaker Trades #2

by Claire Wilder

A career-driven divorcée construction manager. Her silver fox boss who's been nothing but a jerk lately. A work conference where they're forced to work together. What could possibly go wrong?



When my grumpy silver-fox boss Jamie Reilly begrudgingly invites me to join him at a career-catapulting conference over the holidays, I'm thrilled. Yes, it's going to suck dealing with my boss's caveman attitude. Especially because he only seems to act that way with me, and I know I didn't do anything wrong. I'm his top-performing employee, and apparently the biggest thorn in his side.

The thing is, Jamie wasn't always this way with me. We used to care about each other. We used to be friends. Before that... well, we don't talk about that. We agreed to leave that brief moment behind us for the sake of our working relationship.

Now, I'm beyond ready to move on. This conference will be the perfect chance to network with new potential employers, and to show Jamie just what he’ll be missing when I quit.

Except, spending a whole weekend with my surly boss is showing me there might be a reason why he’s so grumpy toward me and only me.

Because being in close proximity with Jamie is making me if there are things we maybe didn't quite leave in the past. Things that make hate start to look a lot like something else.

TROPES

- Grown leads (39 + 55)
- Boss-employee
- Age gap
- Forced proximity
- Snowed in
- Grumpy silver fox
- Protective/possessive hero
- Divorced woman, childless by choice
- Career-driven woman in a male-dominated field

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Forced Proximity

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2026

About the author

USA Today bestselling author of spicy small-town romance featuring

- Relatable women who always support each other
- Strong, sexy wounded men
- A sometimes rocky but always steamy road that always leads to a guaranteed HEA

Get a free book unavailable in stores when you sign up for my newsletter: clairewilder.com/subscribe

Where to find me:

Website: clairewilder.com
Instagram: instagram.com/clairewilderbooks
Bookbub: bookbub.com/profile/claire-wilder
Amazon: amazon.com/author/clairewilder
Bonus Material: clairewilder.com/extras

Reviews

[cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grumpy silver fox boss, snowed-in forced proximity, all that simmering tension… I could see the potential the entire time. Like the idea of this story? So good. But the delivery and the way it was structured just didn’t fully land for me the way I wanted it to.

Also… quick side note before I even get into it: age gap is usually not my thing, and the cover made me so nervous because of how big that gap actually looked 😭 I was so wary going into this, but I’m glad I did.
Let’s get into this ↓ ↓

The way the story is laid out is what threw me first. It should feel intentional, but instead it felt like I was only getting pieces of something I was desperate to experience in full. After their first meet, we mostly start with Jamie, watching him circle around his feelings for Sarah over time, and I was locked in at that point.

And then it jumps…
A whole year.

And I swear that gap is where the book lost me a little, because I’m such an in-the-in-between reader. I want the lingering looks, the almost-confessions, the tension that builds so tight it hurts. Instead, it felt like I was being told the connection existed rather than getting to live inside it. 😭😭 So when everything finally breaks… I didn’t feel it as deeply as I wanted to.

Which is frustrating, because when Jamie speaks???

“When you walk into a room,” Jamie said, “I forget the words I was in the middle of speaking. All rational thought drains from my head. Even when you’re not around, you’re there. Everywhere I look, all I see is you. You inhabit me, Sarah.”

This man is literally the epitome of ”he falls first and SO HARD”

The devotion??? The level of consumption??? It’s exactly what I wanted the entire book to feel like. And in moments like that, I could see the version of this story that would’ve absolutely wrecked me.

But instead of stretching that tension out… it pivots. Hard. 🥲🥲

And suddenly it’s just all intense chemistry & a lot of physical connection. But without that emotional foundation fully landing first, it didn’t hit the way it could have. The spice was there (and it was good, don’t get me wrong), but I kept wishing it was layered on top of something deeper instead of trying to carry the weight of the relationship on its own. 😔

Because when he says things like:

“I lied when I told you I didn’t think about you. It was the biggest lie I ever told. I think about you with every breath. From when I open my eyes in the morning to when I shut them at night.”

…I wanted to feel that in my bones. I want the history, the buildup, the quiet moments that make that confession feel like it’s been clawing its way out of him for years.
And I just didn’t fully get there. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I also kept waiting to feel more grounded in Sarah’s world—especially with her being a woman in trades. That’s such a strong, interesting foundation, and I thought we’d really live in that space the way the first book did. Instead, it felt more like a backdrop than a fully developed part of who she is. I wanted more of her actually doing the job—not just being told she’s good at it.

That said… the second half? Definitely stronger.

Once the story settles into itself, I found myself enjoying it more, especially as the emotional walls start coming down and the dynamic between them softens into something a little more vulnerable (and okay yes, a little more possessive in a way that I did eat up😝). There’s a version of Jamie that’s protective and steady and completely gone for her that really worked for me.

So overall… this landed at a 3⭐ for me. Not bad, not something I regret reading, but also not something that fully consumed me the way I wanted it to. And even though this one didn’t completely hit, I’m still really excited for what’s coming next in the series… because the little peek it gave at the end HEHE YES PLZ IM SO READY

things to know about the book ↓

❄️ age gap 39/55
❄️ forced proximity (snowed in)
❄️ boss x employee
❄️ woman in trades
❄️ grumpy x sunshine
❄️ dual POV

spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
swearing: yes

Thank you Luna Literary & Claire Wilder for this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

⸻⸻⸻

・❥・⁀➷ pre-read

i’m so ready for another woman in trades themed book. and this cover is just YES YES YES 🩷💜

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

YEEES give me a broody silver fox, workplace tension, and years of repressed feelings and I am LOCKED IN. Nailed by Claire Wilder is the second book in the Heartbreaker Trades series, and wow this one came in hot. It absolutely works as a standalone, but if you’re already in this world, its even better. Plus, what a fun premise the Heartbreak Trades Series is!

Sarah and Jamie’s story starts with the kind of meet cute that just hits. A quiet, star-filled night, instant connection, and then…they walk away. Except of course they don’t, because the very next day Sarah shows up for a job interview and surprise! Jamie is her new boss. The tension? OH YEH, its Immediate.

This story has two characters who are older (even with the age gap), and as a woman in my 40's, it was so refreshing to read. Sarah is coming off a divorce and determined to rebuild her life on her own terms, and I loved that about her. She is confident, driven, and thriving in a male-dominated field, which adds so much depth to her character. Watching her step into her power and build a name for herself in Quince Valley was so satisfying. And Jamie…this man. Peak grumpy, emotionally locked down, carrying a ton of baggage, and absolutely gone for her from the start. He falls first, he falls HARD, and then spends years fighting it with everything he has. (WHY DUDE- just go for it?! But obviously we needed the angst and tension)

And when I say slow burn…this is a slow burn. Like YEARS of tension, stolen moments, and “we absolutely should not do this” energy. Jamie keeps pushing her away, trying to stick to his principles and company rules, and it creates this constant push and pull that is equal parts frustrating and addictive. The yearning in this? Top tier. That man is down bad and refuses to admit it out loud. Even if at times you will be wondering just why he's holding back. I'm not a fan of the "i'm not worthy" dynamic, and we have a bit of that here. But at least the payoff is worth it.

Everything finally starts to crack during a work conference where they get snowed in, and listen…worth the wait. The tension, the buildup, the way it all finally tips over? So delicious. The spice absolutely delivers. We get dominant, praise-heavy Jamie, some very bold public moments, and scenes that will stick in your head forever. The stairwell??? IYKYK.

What really worked for me though is that these are older characters with real history and real baggage. And real emotional maturity too. Their pasts actually shape how they move through this relationship, which makes the emotional side feel grounded even with all the tension and heat. You feel the emotion behind why Jamie holds back, even if it drives you a little insane. And Sarah eventually realizing she deserves a love without limits? YES QUEEN.

I also have to shout out the women in trades rep in this series. It adds such a strong layer to the story, and I loved the support between the female characters. It makes the world feel fuller and gives Sarah’s journey even more weight. I just wish we had a smidge more of it in this one.

Overall, this was angsty, sexy, and full of longing with a payoff that hits. If you love a broody older man who is absolutely wrecked over one woman, workplace tension, and a snowed-in situation that finally forces everything into the open, this is a fun one to binge.

what to expect:
🔨 Age Gap (39/55)
🔨 Boss/Employee
🔨 Forbidden Workplace Romance
🔨 Silver Fox Hero
🔨 Grumpy x Sunshine
🔨 He Falls First and Harder
🔨 Divorced Heroine Starting Over
🔨 Woman in Trades
🔨 Slow Burn
🔨 Forced Proximity/Snowed In
🔨 Protective, Praise-Heavy Hero
🔨 Yearning

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Age Gap / Boss x Employee / Forbidden Love / Woman in Trades

I’ve never been an age gap girly. I don’t know what it is about it but I always just choose a different book instead. However, this book has completely shifted my thinking on age gap. Claire did such an amazing job with the story plotting for this book. There is various times where there’s a year gap between chapters. It really made the story feel drawn out and angsty and slow burny in a way that left you wanting to read more. I love these two characters when you read the book you don’t really feel like there’s an age cap because they’re both responsible and mature adults. I really like the boss and employee trope in this book. It’s forbidden, but they both know that but they just can’t help but want each other. I think following that along the story lines was what made the ending so much better because you just have wanted it for so long. I really liked when they went to the conference and they talked about girls and women in trade and really bringing that to the forefront of a conversation about how women are treated in those spaces. It’s a very important conversation to be had, but it was done in such a way that it didn’t feel confrontational, as I could see some people thinking that about the topic. Overall, this book hooked me right away and pulled me along at a break next speed until I finished it. I cannot wait to see where the series goes and who’s next. Thank you to Claire Wilder and her PA Ceilidh for this advanced reader copy.

[Emily Knaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a swoony, slow‑burn age gap romance that hits with a touch of hate to love, and whole lot of heart and heat too!

Nailed gave me exactly what I crave in an age gap story: two people who have lived real lives, carried real grief, and still find something brave and hopeful in each other. Sarah is starting over after divorce, trying to rebuild a life that feels like hers again. Jamie is the grumpy and controlled; he pretends indifference because loving her feels too big, too risky… and yet he can’t stop quietly making her world easier.

“I forget the words I was in the middle of speaking. All rational thought drains from my head. Even when you’re not around, you’re there. Everywhere I look, all I see is you. You inhabit me, Sarah.”

Their dynamic is this perfect mix of tension, restraint, and those tiny, intimate gestures that say more than words ever could. And when they finally break, when that “fuck it” moment hits, it’s electric. The forced proximity finally gives these two the last push Jamie needs to finally make his move.

One of my favorite parts of Nailed is their very first encounter under the stars. There’s something so intimate about two people who both look up when life feels heavy, who find comfort in the same sky. Their shared love of astronomy becomes this quiet thread between them filled with hope, wonder, and the reminder that even after loss, there’s still beauty to reach for. Their connection feels fated in the softest, most unexpected way.

“They’re like stars. My stars.” (Eek! He’s talking about her freckles on her body… swoon!!)

A huge thank you to Claire Wilder & Luna literary for the early copy!

[sarah.bookdiary · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Read🤍

Nailed by Claire Wilder is such a beautiful, emotional romance that completely pulled me in.

Jamie and Sarah meet right when Sarah is about to start over after her divorce and there’s an instant connection between them. For Jamie, even more so: he falls first and harder fits perfectly here. He’s older than her, immediately drawn to her, and at the same time has no idea what to do with those feelings or where he even stands with himself.

After this intense beginning, the story jumps forward a year. Jamie had pushed Sarah away back then because he didn’t want to drag her into his complicated life and now they’re working together. When they end up going to a conference together, everything shifts. Sarah has reached a point where she can’t keep holding back her feelings anymore. At the same time, she realizes she can’t keep going like this, especially when Jamie is warm and easygoing with everyone else, but distant and guarded around her. She knows she needs a clean break and even considers leaving her job.

For Jamie, though, this was never something he could just move on from. His feelings for Sarah have always been there, even when he tried to ignore them. It was so beautiful to watch how everything between them slowly comes back to the surface and how much had been left unsaid all along.

The tropes are done so well: age gap, forced proximity, snowed in, and very much he falls first and harder, with a definitely grumpy Jamie. I also loved the women in trades aspect, which adds another meaningful layer to the story.

Overall, a warm, emotional love story with great characters and so much feeling.❄️

ARC Read🤍

Nailed von Claire Wilder ist eine richtig schöne, emotionale Romance, die mich total abgeholt hat.

Jamie und Sarah lernen sich genau in dem Moment kennen, in dem Sarah nach ihrer Scheidung ein neues Leben beginnen will und zwischen ihnen ist sofort etwas da. Für Jamie sogar mehr: he falls first and harder trifft es hier wirklich perfekt. Er ist älter als sie, fühlt sich sofort zu ihr hingezogen und weiß gleichzeitig überhaupt nicht, wohin mit diesen Gefühlen oder mit sich selbst.

Nach diesem intensiven Anfang gibt es einen Zeitsprung von einem Jahr. Jamie hat Sarah damals zurückgewiesen, weil er sie nicht in sein kompliziertes Leben hineinziehen wollte und jetzt arbeiten sie auch noch zusammen. Als sie gemeinsam auf eine Konferenz fahren, ändert sich die Dynamik komplett. Sarah ist an dem Punkt, an dem sie nicht mehr zurückhalten will, was sie fühlt. Gleichzeitig merkt sie aber auch, dass sie so nicht weitermachen kann, vor allem, weil Jamie zu allen anderen so offen und freundlich ist, während er ihr gegenüber oft distanziert und verschlossen wirkt. Für sie steht fest, dass sie sich einen neuen Job suchen will und endlich einen klaren Schlussstrich braucht.

Für Jamie hingegen war es nie etwas, das er einfach hätte abhaken können, seine Gefühle für Sarah sind die ganze Zeit da gewesen, auch wenn er sie weggeschoben hat. Es war einfach richtig schön zu sehen, wie sich zwischen den beiden alles wieder annähert und wie viel unausgesprochen eigentlich immer zwischen ihnen stand.

Die Tropes sind einfach perfekt umgesetzt: Age Gap, Forced Proximity, Snowed In und ganz klar he falls first and harder, mit einem eher grumpy Jamie. Dazu kommt noch der Aspekt von Women in Trades, was der Geschichte nochmal eine richtig schöne Ebene gibt.

Insgesamt eine sehr warme, emotionale Love Story mit tollen Charakteren und ganz viel Gefühl.❄️

[Daniela Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nailed by Claire Wilder 4 ⭐️ | 3 🌶️
Thanks to Luna Literary and the author for the ARC!
• Age gap she’s 39, he’s 55.
• Workplace romance.
• Forced proximity.
• Snowed in.
• Grumpy silver fox.
• Career driven woman in a male dominated field.

"I knew exactly what those kind of tears were like. They were the ones that come at you like a rogue wave. That catch you when you’re minding your own business, just loving something, thinking they would have loved this, too."

Give me a silver fox MMC and I’ll read the book EVERY SINGLE TIME. Even better, give me a strong, independent and super badass FMC killing it in a job where dumbasses think women shouldn’t be, but she proves them wrong, and I’ll read it EVERY SINGLE TIME!

Nailed is the second book from the Heartbreak Trades series, and even though I liked Winona and Mitchells story, I liked Jamie and Sarah’s a bit more.

Sarah and Jamie had one of those rare encounters where everything is hearts and stars (and I mean this, because they were literally watching stars) but as it happens so often, they had this one single moment where the chemistry was there but they knew they would probably never see each other again, until…SURPRISE, Sarah shows up for an interview and Jamie IS THE BOSS. And then, the tension starts, because let me tell you that Claire gives a proper, proper slow burn. We have a bit of a time jump, and after a little incident, Jamie decides to keep pushing Sarah away, he tries to fight against his principles but he knows that been interested in pursuing a relationship with Sarah is not the best idea, not at their job anyway. Eventually everything cracks up during a work convention and let me tell you it was absolutely worth it.

I liked Sarah’s character, and I think this comes from because she’s and older character (there’s nothing wrong with younger characters btw), it’s just that maybe my age gives me a different perspective ha-ha. Sarah is coming fresh out from a divorce, but she’s determined, funny, and she doesn’t tolerate crap from idiots who might think she’s not mean to be there, working in a male dominated field. She shows everyone why she’s so good and she makes a name of herself. And Jamie, oh that man, the proper definition of a grumpy MMC, not showing emotions, carrying baggage of his own, something that makes him think he doesn’t really deserve a second chance, especially not with someone like Sarah, but even when he kept her at arm’s length, he made sure to makes Sarah’s life easier, even if it looked like he wasn’t. That man FELL HARD.

“I lied when I told you I didn’t think about you. It was the biggest lie I ever told. I think about you with every breath. From when I open my eyes in the morning to when I shut them at night. I think about you in my fucking dreams, Sarah. And that’s not a line. You torment me in my sleep.”

The spice, was nice, and it took a looooooong time haha. As I mentioned before, this book gives a proper slow burn. These two took their time to finally say, "you know what, fuck it", but when it eventually happened, it was perfect. THEY ABSOLUTELY DELIVERED.

I think my only complain if I can call it like that, is that the ending felt a bit rushed, I think I would love to seen a bit more of Jamie and Sarah together after the convention and after they decided they wanted to be together. A longer and probably depth conversation was necessary.
And, can we talk about that final chapter! I really, really need the next book, because we are going to have a very interesting plot, and I can’t wait for it!

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Stand-alone: Yes****
Author: Claire Wilder
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating: 3/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Jamie and Sarah
Trope(s): Age Gap, Silver Fox, Older MCs, Grumpy Sunshine, Forced Proximity, Snowed in, Protective Hero, Yearning, Angst


I’ve been reading Claire for years. One of the things I love, besides her books, is that she does these series. I love to follow couples. Nailed is Book 2 in the Heartbreaker Trades Series. I would recommend reading books in order. She throws nuggets about future couples in. The details of this read take us back a couple of years and break down the relationship between Jamie and Sarah. There is the underlying fire between them, his concern over their age gap, the strict policies in place at work regarding relationships, the angst of his rejection and consequent treatment of Sarah to keep her at arms length, and her remembering she had once entered her Shelly era and wasn’t going to let another man dictate her life. The range of emotions this book will draw out of you is many. The number of times you want to shake Jamie out of his gentlemanly stupor is also many. Sarah remembering she is a badass and standing her ground is a beautiful sight to behold.


Sarah Cooper, recently divorced, deciding she needs a complete change of scenery, applies for a job in Vermont. As Director of Construction it is a step below her former VP status, but she would be able to get her hands dirty again. Something she has missed.

From the moment she enters Quince Valley she is hooked.

And, enjoying a Meteor Shower Viewing Party the night before her big interview, yes please. Meeting the silver fox and having an out of body experience, well don’t mind if she does.

Until she shows up for her interview and finds her silver fox is Jamie Reilly, the owner of the company.

They decide to put that night behind them and move forward professionally.

Because professional is all they can be. Interpersonal relationships are a no-no.

They manage to work well together and become pseudo friends.

Until Jamie realizes he’s deep in his feelings for Sarah.

And, when she confesses her feelings at a very vulnerable time. He chooses to lie.

Sarah powers through the moment and the time that follows, but Jamie’s attitude change proves too much for her to deal with.

When the opportunity of attending a conference that would give her the chance to network comes up. She takes it. Using it as a sign that it is time to move on.
But, when Jamie is faced with the very real scenario of Sarah moving on, can he put aside the past and embrace the future?

[onlyhereforthehea · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Nailed is a spicy age-gap, workplace, forbidden romance from Claire Wilder that I loved. It’s the second book in her Heartbreaker Trades series. It’s interconnected, but definitely works as a standalone.

This one follows Sarah and Jamie. After her divorce, Sarah is looking for a fresh start and ends up in Quince Valley. She and Jamie have a star-filled meet cute and instantly feel that connection…only to walk away from it. But of course, the job interview that brought Sarah to town? Yeah, it’s with Jamie’s construction company.

What follows is all that forced proximity, working together, fighting feelings, push-and-pull deliciousness. Jamie is a total silver fox with baggage and a strict set of principles that keeps him holding back, no matter how much he clearly doesn’t want to. And the tension between these two? So good.

Everything comes to a head during a weekend work conference where they get snowed in (yes, it’s as good as it sounds). The spice in this one was hot, but what I really loved was that both characters are older and bring real life experience and emotional depth to the story. Their baggage actually shapes how they navigate each other, which made everything feel more grounded and real.

I wanted nothing more than for these two to figure it out, and even while they’re fighting it, the chemistry keeps things very interesting.

The writing is good, the story is solid and the characters are relatable. The spice is yummy and this is overall a really enjoyable book to read.

I’m really enjoying this series overall. I love that it highlights strong, successful women working in male-dominated fields, while also showing the challenges that come with that. And the support systems between the women? So good. It adds an extra layer to the story that I really appreciate, and I’m excited to keep going with the series.

If you love age-gap, forbidden romance, forced proximity, and a little snowed-in situation but with real emotional depth then this is a fun one to pick up.

🌟 thank you to Claire Wilder for the ARC and the opportunity to read and provide my honest review

[Nicole Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩵💜🩶
Nailed
By Claire Wilder

4 1/2 ⭐️
4 1/2 🌶️

Yet again, Claire Wilder has written an incredible book. Book two of the Heartbreakers Trades came in sooooo hot. Age gap, boss/employee and mountains of tension and yearning?? Say. Less.

When FMC Sarah rolls into town to interview for Reilly Consulting she was heartbroken and determined to start fresh and be the successful, bad ass woman her loser ex husband never let her be.

In a gorgeous meet cute, she meets our MMC Jamie while doing her all time favourite thing, watching the stars. The first chapter of this book had me HOOOOOOKED on this story and these characters.

This story has time jumps (we start more than two years back) and watch as Jamie falls immediately for Sarah before he knows her name. Lucky for him, she shows up almost immediately at his office for her job interview. What follows is Jamie fighting his attraction and love for Sarah for two years while she builds an incredible reputation and does exactly what she set out to do when she arrived in Quince Valley.

Our non-couple, (who are in love before they even kiss for the first time) are then snowed in at a work conference and even though the forced proximity was light in this book, the tension and angst was absolutely not. This was a satisfying, sexy, yearning slow burn.

Jamie and Sarah are so clearly end game… from the things they want and the people that they are - they fit so perfectly together it’s hard to see how he fought it for so long and that Sarah didn’t know immediately in that wine room what he truly felt.

My usual last comments are on spice. HO-LY SH*T. This book had public spicy times (that were insane), super hot solo scenes (THE STAIRWELL!!!!) and the perfect type of dominant man/submissive woman and so much praise (the amount of “good girls” 🥵🫠). IF you love small town men, who love to tell their women how good they’re doing, this book is for you.


🩶 Age Gap
💜 Boss/Employee
❄️ Women in Trades
💜 Grumpy/Sunshine
🩶 Forced Proximity

📖 ARC Reading

[jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Everywhere I look, all I see is you. You inhabit me, Sarah."

Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

A flirtatious night under the stars goes sideways when Sarah realizes the man she spend the night dreaming about just so happens to be the owner of the company she's interviewing for. Now forced to work together, the sweet but gruff man she encountered has turned full Boss - determined to leave their mutual feelings in the past.

Oh my god I inhaled this. The initial spark between them was so good, they had such an intense attraction. There were so many great reveals to follow (that he's her new boss, the "it's just you" line - I screamed!!) as they try to navigate their attraction with their strict No Dating company policy. And Jamie - Jamie, Jamie, his instinct is to go full asshole-boss to try to push her away, but the universe keep pushing them together.

I loved Sarah - this series is so good and I love that it's women in trades, that is so powerful. The way she pushes to make sure women excel in their work was so great, I loved her moments of success at the conference. I identified with her in a lot of ways, and honestly just loved everything about her. And Jamie - god, that man could yearn. I couldn't get enough of his chapters. The definition of "he falls first and harder" and there is crater in the earth where he landed. That man is never not thinking of her and god I loved it so much.

This was amazing, I had such a great time and would love to read a million more chapters of them!

Tropes & Tags:
❄️ age gap (39/55)
🔨 forced proximity
❄️ boss x employee
🔨 grumpy x sunshine
❄️ divorced fmc
🔨 protective mmc
❄️ he falls first and harder

[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much Claire Wilder and Luna Literary Management! 📖]

[rosesreadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

🩷 When you walk into a room, I forget the words I was in the middle of speaking. All rational thought drains from my head. Even when you're not around, you're there. Everywhere I look, all I see is you. You inhabit me, Sarah. 🩶

Sometimes true love comes later in life, when you least expect it 💖

I absolutely loved that the FMC, Sarah, works in a profession traditionally reserved for men and absolutely thrives in it 💼🪵🔨
She’s strong, confident, and deeply focused on her career. I admired how she isn’t afraid of change and had the courage to turn her life upside down after her divorce — that kind of strength is amazing 😍

Jamie, the MMC, is her complete opposite in some ways. After experiencing a tragedy in the past, he’s afraid to open his heart again 💔 He keeps his emotions locked away, and because of that, he often comes across as cold, grumpy, and distant... but underneath it all, he’s incredibly caring, supportive, and deeply family-oriented 🫶🏻
And it was beautiful to see how he encouraged Sarah every step of the way in her professional journey 🥹

What annoyed me a little was how often he brought up their age difference — especially since Sarah clearly didn’t mind it at all 🤍🦊🤤🥵

Also, I have to admit, it felt a bit strange reading a wintery, cozy story ❄️ while it’s sunny and warm outside 🌸☀️ I feel like this book would hit even better during winter, right before Christmas, when the atmosphere would match perfectly 🎄🏔️

Overall, this is a story I’d happily recommend to fans of spicy and steamy workplace romance, grown characters (39 + 55), forced proximity, small town, snowed in, grumpy silver fox, protective/possessive hero, divorced woman, childless by choice, career-driven woman in a male-dominated field 💕📚

📖 Nailed by Claire Wilder (ARC) 🤍💜

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Format: kindle
Star Rating: 4.5
Spice Rating: 3
Fav Character: Sam🥹
Fav Quote: “Let’s just let this be magic"
Would you recommend: Yes

This book truly had me wanting more. The FMC was definitely a realistic depiction of a woman really being sure of herself and her capabilities but also falling short of having the confidence and self belief to really shine. I found that really relatable and kind of frustrating. The MMC had such a good back story. I loved that the dual perspective gave you the opportunity to get into the heads of the two characters. The spice scenes were so well written and really enhanced the plot perfectly.
The side characters were undoubtedly my favourite, Sam and Ellie were the best and I found myself always hoping they would crop up more.
The overall vibe of the book was cosy, comforting and easy which I loved.
That being said there was a couple of things I would have changed. I would love it to have been a bit longer, really to explore the year and a half that was glazed over a bit, just so we got a better understanding of how friendly Jamie and Sarah were and how it then changed. I would've loved more Ellie at the conference, I was invested in her life too. I would've liked to delve a bit deeper into Jamie and Rodgers friendship and how it really came to be. I also didnt like the 'baby girl' too much and felt it got a bit overused.
All that being said its minor points and didnt detract from how much I enjoyed the book. It was a super easy comfortable read that touched on some pretty heavy topics without being overwhelming and I really appreciate how the characters were so real and flawed but great in their own way.
ALSO, the ending?! You have to read this book just for the end!

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️Arc Review⭐️

Nailed
Heartbreaker Trades Book 2
Available 04.24
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

❄️age gap with mature characters (39 + 55)
🪵boss employee
❄️grumpy silver fox
🪵forced proximity
❄️snowed-in
🪵slow burn then spillilicy
❄️yearning

A grumpy sliver fox, a snowed in convention, and years…yes, years, of pent up pining and yearning? Oh, you just know it's going to be delicious… and wow, it absolutely is. I was hooked from the first page and didn’t stand a chance putting it down.

After her divorce, Sarah heads to Quince Valley chasing a clean slate and instead stumbles into a starry night meet cute she definitely wasn’t prepared for. The spark with Jamie? Instant. Electric. Completely ignored… until fate laughs and throws them right back together.
Because of course the job she came for is at his construction company.Cue all the forced proximity, late night tension, and that slow-burn push-and-pull that keeps you hooked.

This is slow burn done right, the kind that teases you, tortures you (in the best way), and then actually delivers. All that denial, tension, and shared hurt? You feel every bit of it. And then… you start noticing all the quiet, thoughtful things he’s been doing for her all along, completely under her radar, and it hits so hard.

And Sarah? She’s not just along for the ride. She knows her worth, picks herself back up after divorce, and goes after something better. It’s empowering and swoony.
I was rooting for them the whole time, like, just kiss already!, but even when they’re resisting, the chemistry is off the charts. The push and pull? So good, I needed more and the cliffhanger at the end I can’t wait for more from this series! Thank you to Luna Literary and Claire Wilder for the advanced copy. 🤍

[Megs · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌌🔨ARC Review🔨🌌

Thank you Claire Wilder and Luna Literary for this ARC of Nailed!

After first meeting Sarah and Jamie throughout Plunged, going backward in their story Nailed, to seeing there meet cute turned a possible missed opportunity at destiny?

Let me say this was a slowwwwww burn, maybe the slowest burn I have ever read, but man was it worth the wait!!! These MCs always had a simmering attraction, Jamie just couldn’t act on it, with being her boss and all the previous issues that he had at his company with another employee sexually harassing the female employees. So how did Jamie deal with it, he tried being friends, but then after Sarah made her confession to him he dealt with it by being RUDE AF and cold towards her.

However once it clicked after an incident at the conference they are attending, and he basically says F*It and completely claims Sarah, it was everything!!!

I absolutely LOVED the way that Claire wrote the strength that was Sarah! Sarah realizing that she shouldn’t have to/need to convince Jamie to love her with zero limitations, that he had to realize it was perfection!

Going full circle with the family of two but add a fish and his cat and a dog too (but not just any dog 🥹)

Ugh this had SO MUCH HEART! It was just so beautiful to watch these two fall for each other. With Sarah letting it be known and Jamie fighting himself and trying to just leave her be.

I absolutely CANNOT wait for the next book! I had a feeling who the couple would be but I am absolutely gonna LOVE this twist!! 😄

Tropes:
🌌Blue Collar FMC
🔨Construction firm boss MMC
🌌Divorced FMC
🔨Age Gap
🌌Forbidden
🔨Workplace
🌌SLOW BURN

[Ofwitchbrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH I was BAMBOOZLED by this book.

I went in thinking I knew exactly what I was getting. A dirty little age-gap office romance with a grumpy silver fox boss and some snowed-in spice to pass the time. Cute. Hot. Fun. Nothing life-altering.

WELL.

This book took that assumption, lit it on fire, and made me sit there with my lips cracked from biting them and my thighs sore from clenching.

Because when I tell you this is the mother of all slow burns , I mean it. The kind of slow burn that makes you feel like you are being edged emotionally for chapters on end. The yearning in this book is actually disgusting. Jamie does not just want Sarah. That man is HAUNTED by her. Infected. Possessed. Everywhere he looks, there she is, and it made me feral.

What got me even more is that Sarah never lets herself become small just because he is older, moodier, and built like a very bad decision. She is sharp, capable, divorced, and completely unwilling to beg for crumbs. She wants honesty, respect, and something real. That made everything hurt even better.

And Jamie… God. He spent so much of this book fighting himself that by the time he finally gave in, I was ready to chew drywall. The emotional payoff in this was insane. The grovel hit. The release hit. Everything hit.

I also loved how much weight the women-in-trades angle gave the story. Sarah felt like a whole person with a life and ambition outside of him, which made the romance land even harder when it finally cracked open.

So yes. I came for the age gap. I stayed for the yearning, the devastation, the slow unraveling, and one hell of a payoff.

This one got me GOOD.

[Mairi Swan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An age-gap, boss/employee, close proximity, grumpy-sunshine, later in life, slow burn, workplace, small town romance.
I do feel that this story is for the empowering of women equally to romance and not solely on romance. Sure the plot is rounding the fact that the couple isn't acting upon their attraction to each other until 75% of the book.
Heroine, Sarah, a newly divorced woman working in a mostly man field but so good at what she does meets hero, Jamie, in a small town at a meteor sight and the very next day he interviews her for a spot in his company. The first meeting was quite magic and cute and then the next day acting all kind of surprised and embarrased and determined. The story follows them for a year where we see Sarah and Jamie acting civilized until the night where everything turns around and Jamie pulls himself and acts cold. Then fast forward two years when they go to a conference and everything explodes!
I gave this story 4 stars as I liked the plot, I liked the women awareness strength and how the Author tried to pass through the toxic behaviour that many women are subjected in everyday life and most dismiss it. That being said I expected a better reaction from Sarah on the incident towards the end without giving any spoilers.
Moreover I loved the fact that both of them are over 30 and while they act on their age they still make some spontaneous things like teens would have. We don't see many novels out there later in life and it's a present when I come across in one.
I received this arc and this is my honest opinion.

[Soft Nectarine ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

New beginnings & an old man that was too old to be doing all of that 🔨💙 workplace romance full of female empowerment & deep emotional scars!

"From the stars, to friends, to enemies, to finding my everything.”

Sarah is looking for a new start after a brutal marital separation. After accepting a new job in a small town she finds her boss is a SILVER FOX she climbed like a tree just the night before 👀 They try to feign professionalism FOR YEARS until a snowy work trip finally uncovers deep attraction. Vulnerable romance as two emotionally scarred souls find a way to start over 💙🔨✨

This one is a SLOW BURN! Did I enjoy that…no. But the pay off was worth it! It takes awhile for these two to get together but I immensely enjoyed the dom/sub vibes especially when ol’ man Jamie got into it…

🔨 strong women in TRADES!

💙 he’s absolutely massive

🔨 dirty romp behind Christmas tree in a hotel lobby!

💙 she’s 36 & he’s 52! AGE GAP!

One thing about me is that I will EAT UP a romance with a silver fox daddy 🩶 I was super exited for this mmc but found him to be too imperfect for how old he was. Jamie really hurt Sarah FOR YEARS and I thought he was too old for to have emotional epiphanies at 52. Kind of justified but I’m not buying the whole “I hurt you for your own good” type of argument…

3.5 ⭐️

workplace romance
grumpy mmc
age gap
strong/independent fmc
praise
dom/sub vibes
work trip
infertility
death of a family member
HEA

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many things to love about Wilder's latest!! Did I get up in my feels at 2 AM reading about our maun couple Jamie & Sarah? Yes. Did I cry a little about a couple choosing to be family & child-free together? Yes.

Divorce is a heavy theme throughout this one, and I really appreciated how it was handled. Sometimes our exes are jerks. Sometimes we just couldn't hold on through trauma. Whatever the reasons are, it's rarely easy. And while Jamie grapples with a devastating loss and figures out what love looks like for a middle-aged person, I found his character so tender and endearing! Loving more mature romances as I get older, and this one was no exception.

Sarah is childfree by choice and career-driven, making an impact for women in the construction industry, and we need more stories of women in fields like this! These are incredibly lucrative careers that women can be passionate about, but they're often held back or afraid to even try, so it was fun to read about a BA gal in this space.

HOUSEKEEPING:
* Spice: 🌶️🌶️/5 - kinky fun play
* Reader Age Suggestions: adult
* Content Warnings: Child loss/infertility
* Kindle Unlimited: ✅
* Part of A Series: ✅ / Can it be read alone?: Yes - IMO

**Thank you to Luna Literary for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR🖤

Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🖤

[Kelchickbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it was published as a holiday novella and Ms. Wilder has added and improved this grumpy/sunshine, age gap, silver fox, workplace romance. She gives us a story that is entertaining, enjoyable and one where you are cheering for Sarah to break the walls Jamie built around himself.
Nailed tells the story of Sarah, newly divorced, and Jamie, the older single dad who happens to be her grumpy boss as well. These two had a cute meet but Jamie is nothing like the man Sarah met at the meteor shower. He was sweet, kind, mysterious and a man whom she could climb. Now that he is her boss, his attitude is cold, and no matter what she does or says, he never veers from it. Jamie is a man with principles and crossing the line with an employee is something he would never do. He also has a past that breaks your heart.
Now, Sarah is the life of the party at times. She two has a past that is not all sunshine but that has not stopped her from going after what she wants. The only problem is that she wants Jamie and pushes his buttons to get him to break. A business trip, forced proximity and being snowed in see everything come to a head. Jealously surfaces, lines are crossed and these two set the pages on fire.
Their HEA took a couple of years and it was enjoyable to be a part of their journey.

[Commamirandabooknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review 📖 

Nailed

Heartbreaker Trades Book 2

Written by Claire Wilder 





I read the original novella and loved it but I wanted so much more from Sarah and Jamie. Claire made my wish come true when I found out she was writing a full length novel and I was beyond excited to learn more about Jamie and Sarah. 



Naturally I was instantly hooked on how they met and I would never have known this if we didn't get the full length novel! I absolutely love knowing that Jamie got lost in Sarah from the very beginning. These two are the epitome of the right person at the wrong time. Let the yearning and pinning commence for them both. As they get to know each other on a professional level they both cannot help falling for each other at a personal level. 




I thought I loved these characters before but I was wrong. I fell in love with them all over again because we got more background information about them both and more dots were connected for me. This book is by far my favorite Claire Wilder book!



What a way to end this book and have me begging for book three stat! 




🔨 Age Gap (39 + 55)

 🔨 Boss-employee 

🔨Forced proximity 

🔨Snowed in

🔨Grumpy silver fox

🔨Protective/possessive hero

🔨Divorced woman, childless by choice

🔨 Career-driven woman in a male-dominated field



#ClaireWilder 

#nailed 

#heartbreakertrades

[Emily Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

My very first ARC request… and I went for it purely based on vibes: age gap, boss/employee, woman in the trades, and a cover that was giving elite silver fox energy (borderline sexy Santa, I said what I said 🎅🏻).

I didn’t realise this was part of a series of interconnected standalones, but jumping straight into book two didn’t feel like an issue.

Overall? I had a good time. There’s spice, there’s yearning, there are some genuinely sweet moments — and some of the love declarations were *so* close to being everything.

But for me, it just needed more depth. I didn’t feel like we got enough of the quiet, intimate, in-between moments to really earn the emotional connection between Sarah and Jamie. When he’s saying things like “I think about you with every breath”… I want to feel that. I want the build-up, the tension, the history behind it. And I just didn’t quite get there.

I also felt like the “woman in a trade” angle had so much potential that wasn’t fully explored. It’s such a strong, interesting foundation, and I really wanted to see more of Sarah actually doing her job and owning that space, rather than it sitting in the background.

That said — the second half definitely picked up for me, and I was more invested by the end.

So overall: a fun, easy romance with great bones, just needed a bit more depth and development to really hit that top tier level.

[Ruby-May Eccles · Rating 5 out of 5]

@clairewilderbooks ARC Buddy Read with @blackcatreadsromance 📚 Nailed by Claire Wilder from a slow burn girlie🔥🥵

You know I live for a slow burn…
for the lingering looks, the tension, the almosts…

…and this one?
It DELIVERS.

This isn’t instalove.
This is:
✨ stolen glances across a room
✨ tension that simmers instead of explodes
✨ a man who wants her… but refuses to let himself have her

Jamie is the definition of a silver fox with restraint
(which is somehow hotter than if he just gave in immediately???)

He holds back.
He denies it.
He convinces himself it’s wrong.

Meanwhile I’m sitting there like:
sir… respectfully… give up the act 😭

Because the slow burn here is aching.

Every moment feels stretched tight
like something is about to snap…
and when it finally does???

Yeah.
Worth. The. Wait. 🔥

And Sarah?
She’s not chasing. She’s not begging.
She KNOWS her worth and that makes the tension even better.

It’s that perfect push/pull:
🤌🏼 he resists
🖤she stands firm
🔥 the chemistry just builds and builds

My only complaint?
I wanted MORE of the slow torture.
More longing. More denial. More “this is a bad idea” energy.

⭐️ 5/5
💀 Emotional damage: thank you, I’ll take another

& If you’re like me a romance girly who would rather suffer through tension than get instant gratification…

add this to your TBR immediately please and thank you 🙏🤌🏼

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Wilder is officially a go to read for me. After having read the first book in this series, I couldn't wait to get to this book, and it exceeded my expectations. She absolutely "nailed" this book! (You see what I did there?) Okay, but the way I was absorbed into this book, I ate it completely up. This is what a slow-burn/right preson wrong time should feel like. The age gap between them gave me no icks (39/55). Sarah and Jaime completely had my heart. Their chemistry was undeniable. I couldn't get enough of their pining for one another, and the anticipation made the spice even better. The way he falls so hard, it just made my heart swoon, I love me a tortured hero. Sarah is an FMC worth rooting for. I loved everything she represents, and I'd make her my bestie in an instant. They were perfect together.

"I think about you with every breath."
"You torment my dreams."

This was just such a fun read that was balanced well with the angsty heartache, sweet and spicy. The amazing characters in this series of books are just so relatable, making it easy to get invested in their stories.

Tropes:
Age-gap (39/55)
Silver fox
Workplace
Snowed in
Protective/Possessive MMC
Grumpy + Sunshine
Forced proximity
Dual POV

Check TW

Thank you, Luna Literary and Claire Wilder, for the opportunity to read this book.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

"All rational thought drains from my head. Even when you're not around, you're there. Everywhere I look, all I see is you. You inhabit me, Sarah."

I absolutely adored this book. Sheer perfection.

It's no secret that I love a good age gap romance, but this was so much more than just a trope. It was a love story written in the stars.

Sarah and Jamie were such a joy to uncover. They were both slightly broken and lost, on their own paths of grief and healing, yet somehow trying to summon the courage to start living again.

It was refreshing to read an age gap romance where the main characters were over the age of 30 (he's in his early fifties and she's in her late thirties). They're a perfect reminder that it's never too late to start again.
Also, Jamie is in serious silver fox territory!

To put it simply: I laughed. I cried. I got everything I could possibly want from this gorgeous romance.

You should read this book if you love:
- Open door romance (spicy)
- Age gap
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Boss x employee
- Forced proximity
- Dual POV

Nailed is available now, including on KU!

Thank you to Claire Wilder and Luna Literary Management for the complimentary copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Notyourmomsshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly what I was hoping for with this story but even better. Jamie and Sarah's semi ONS/Meet-Cute was fire. A burly quiet man + the stars? Hello? I'm there. Claire did an amazing job of getting us up to speed on the drama that went on behind the scenes of Plunged with Jamie and Sarah. I love a tortured MMC who just can't stand being in the same room as the FMC if she isn't his - and Jamie was the epitome of that. His grumpy attitude faltered whenever Sarah and him were alone and he really tried to hold strong to his convictions but love is heavier than that. Sarah was a character that I'd be friends with, easily. She's strong but also fine being vulnerable, she shows up for her friends with out being too overbearing. And I am so happy that she found a love in Jamie that truly is written in the stars. I love when an FMC shows how strong she is in her professional life but is fully capable of feeling her feelings and being vulnerable around other people. I love this series. I'm so excited to see where this series goes.

Also, the way how it ended though with the lil'teaser for book 3, CLAIRE!

[Sarah Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic!

I'd previously read and loved the author's holiday novella version of this story in 2022, so was particularly excited to read this updated and expanded story as part of the Heartbreaker Trades series. Claire has written a heartfelt, engaging and beautiful story. I loved the way the story was split into 5 sections with fantastic names that matched the content perfectly. The beginning certainly was 'Magic' and this magic was woven throughout. Jamie was a fascinating and complex character whose beliefs and subsequent behaviour caused frustration and heartbreak and a very long slow burn for him and Sarah. Sarah's resilience and strength were a real highlight, and I enjoyed watching her come into her "Shelly Era" and take back her power. The tension, chemistry and eventual spice between the pair was scorching, and their hard won happy ever after was satisfyingly swoony and delicious. The epilogue involves Sarah's friend, Ellie, and has me fizzing for the 3rd book in the series to come - a definite 'must read' for me.

I was lucky to receive an early copy from Luna Literary and the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[RaiynnyDays · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED this book so much. The chemistry was instant with these two and I have never been so invested in a slow burn.
The way that Sarah and Jamie met was adorable and holy smokes do I wish they had gotten busy that first night 🥵 There’s no way he would have fought so hard for those boundaries if he had actually gotten a taste of her.

I love the fact that Claire explained his reasonings for fighting the relationship so you could completely understand why he was doing what he was doing. He’s such a nice person (honestly not usually my type but Claire wrote him SO WELL!!)

The tension building was well paced and exciting. I was hooked. And when they finally get their hands on each other 🙈🙈🙈 damn girl.

The only problem I had with this book was the ending. I felt like the way it ended diminished their story to a filler for the next story, rather than leaving it as a standalone piece. It made it feel like the book was not about their story and was about the next couples which made me a little frustrated.

Overall I adored the love story though and I just acted like the last bit didn’t happen 🤣

[sef · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4 stars.


Caution. Spoilers.


I don’t know what i expected but this book was so emotional and sad and got me tearing up a bit.
It was surprisingly so good I flew through the pages.
The characters were likable (even Jamie i guess) and it was HOT.

They were grown GROWN i’ll tell you that.
Needed a bit more grovel from Jamie though. I feel like in the guise of Sarah “gaining her confidence” or whatever the whole apology for being an asshole got glossed over.

The only little tiny problem I had with this was I would have appreciated less knowledge about his past hookups. Don’t get me wrong it’s almost barely talked about but it’s still a bit too much given that next to nothing was said about the FMC’s sex life before, during or after marriage.
I would have loved to know less about his out of town hookups because i frankly don’t care and didn’t need to hear that. Buuuut as I said. It takes absolutely nothing away from the book. It’s just there to drive a point home.

Also last things, the dog bit was the most precious thing ever. Jamie was incredibly sweet for doing that for her I actually teared up at that scene.

[Jade 🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I fell in love with Fritz straight away 🥹🐶

From the very beginning, I felt Sarah’s grief so deeply- it wasn’t just something she was going through, you felt it with her. And having that ride or die bestie who would drop everything for her? I loved that dynamic so much. ❤️

Jamie though…👀
His internal monologue had me HOOKED 🪝. The way he thinks , the way he holds himself back? It just pulls you in at the same time as wanting to shake him! 🫠

The secret Santa scene? Yeah… that’s when I fell for him too😮🔥.

This is a slow burn done right. Years of denial, tension and pain (on both sides) - and you feel every bit of it. But when you start to realise just how much he does for her, without her even knowing… oh my ❤️.

“I will always be in your corner “
That line?? ⬆️ Yeah, it stuck with me.

And when they finally came together?? 🔥
Explosive. Hot. Worth every second of that wait. 🥵

“Eyes on me, sweet”

Emotional ✔️
Protective MMC ✔️
Slow burn ✔️
Spicy payoff ✔️

I absolutely loved this one.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#ARCreader #bookreview #Nailed
#slowburnromance

[Silke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nailed is the 2nd book in the Heartbreaker Trades series, not to be confused with a previously published novella by the same name. The tropes are the same - age-gap and boss/employee - but the plot has been extensively expanded, making this a completely new reading experience. It continues the strong women in trade motto of Plunged - which I highly reommend reading not least because it introduces both Sarah and Jamie - even though we don't actually get to see too much of Sarah in her killing-the-job mode. Their story is big on emotions, high in frustration at times and has a very sweet and romantic finish. Read the trigger warnings, because there are some deeply sensitive subjects buried in both Sarah and Jamie's past which lead to their struggles with their relationship. Fortunately, there are some intriguing side characters around to show them the error of their ways and I can't wait for two of them are getting their own story next! I received an early copy and am leaving this review voluntarily and honestly.